Bentley repeated again today that he has no plans to opt for expansion of the program as allowed under the Affordable Care Act. Medicaid already provides health care to about 20 percent of Alabamians.

“My decision right now is to make sure that the Medicaid we have right now for 950,000 people works properly,” Bentley said during an appearance in Clanton to celebrate the start of peach season. “We don’t have any plans at the present time to expand Medicaid. Our plans are to make sure Medicaid works properly and the people on Medicaid get quality care. And this new program that we’ve developed, I believe will deliver that type of care.”